Arundel appoints Britney Gerth to RSU 21 School Board after resignation

ARUNDEL, Maine — Residents in Arundel have a new representative on the RSU 21 School Board.

The Arundel Select Board on Monday, April 10 appointed Britney Gerth to fill a vacancy on the School Board. Gerth succeeds Ryan McQueen, who resigned in March after his posts on social media prompted complaints from the public and a denouncement from the district and School Board.

In an email, Gerth said she was “humbled and honored” by the appointment. She was one of five candidates interviewed by the Select Board for the position. The other candidates included Ariel Taschereau, Kirstin Shapiro, Cathy Bansmer and Charles Bassett.

“I am so thrilled to see that Arundel residents stepped up to volunteer to serve our district,” Gerth said. “The turnout of candidates is an example of our community pride.”

Gerth is a senior compliance analyst for a large insurance company. She has a son who will be enrolled in the district’s pre-K program next year.

She has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Maine at Orono and a master of science degree from Boston University.

“The skills acquired during my career that I hope to bring to my role in the School Board include project management, data analytics, critical thinking, policy creation, and a keen understanding of regulatory guidelines,” she said.

Previous story: Ryan McQueen quits RSU 21 School Board after 'hateful' social media posts spark complaints

Gerth grew up in southern Maine and returned here with her family after living out of state for several years. She said she and her family chose to live in Arundel, in large part, because RSU 21 “has a reputation of excellence.” She said she sought the School Board vacancy because she believes public education to be a pillar of a community.

“I believe I bring a unique set of skills that can make a positive contribution to the existing School Board,” she said. “My son will be a part of the graduating class of 2037, and my passion for his education and all of the children of this district are my motivation.”

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Gerth to run to retain seat in upcoming election

Gerth’s appointment lasts until the end of the current fiscal year on June 30. She said she is planning to run to keep the seat during the annual town election on June 13, so that she can completely finish the term, which expires in 2024.

Gerth said she plans to be visible and available to members of the community.

“I plan to focus on delivering transparency in order to foster open collaboration between community members, the School Board, and educators,” she said. “My years serving in project management roles has taught me that we can achieve greater as a collective than as an individual. I value diverse experiences and perspectives as a catalyst for driving impactful change.”

She said she is most excited to get to know the other School Board members, as well as local educators and members of the community.

“I have some learning to do, but I feel confident that I can join this School Board and begin participating without delay,” she said. “Ultimately, I am honored to have a role in the educational lives of the students in our district.”

Gerth is the fourth Arundel resident to serve this particular term on the School Board. Voters elected Todd Shea to the seat in the summer of 2021, but he resigned that fall, citing other commitments. The Select Board appointed Erin Nadeau to the seat, and she served in it until June 30, 2022 – at which point, she successfully made the jump to a full term when member Ira Camp opted not to seek reelection. Nadeau now serves as the chair of the School Board.

McQueen was the only candidate to seek the Shea-Nadeau seat during the annual town election last June. Had he not resigned, he would have served through the remainder of the term in 2024.

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McQueen's resignation avoided recall

In quitting the School Board, McQueen avoided a potential recall effort that had begun against him in Arundel. He resigned on March 22, through a letter in which he wrote, “I did not volunteer for this position to be attacked and slandered.”

In the days leading up to McQueen’s resignation, RSU 21 Superintendent Terri Cooper issued a letter to the community in which she said some of McQueen’s social media posts were brought to the district’s attention. Cooper described the posts as “hateful toward transgender people, people of color, and women.”

The Select Board discussed McQueen’s resignation during its meeting on March 27 and expressed hopes for the community vetting candidates for office more closely in the future. Board members voted unanimously to appoint Gerth, and Chair Dan Dubois encouraged those who were not selected to consider running for office in the future.

“We had some really good candidates,” Dubois said. “I certainly encourage you to move forward. It’s new blood, and I think that’s pretty awesome. We like to see that.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Britney Gerth appointed to RSU 21 School Board after resignation